TERRA BELLA — Setton Pistachio is going solar.
Lee Cohen, the company’s general manager, is at a Western Pistachio Association conference today in Santa Barbara to announce Setton’s plans to use solar energy to partially power its two local plants.
Cohen said he hopes to have the system up and running in May.
“The company is very eager to get the system running,” he said. “Not only will it reduce dramatically our electrical costs, but it also will showcase our commitment to sustainability.”
Forty four-pound modules — 4,872 at the Terra Bella plant and 2,436 at the Pixley plant — will provide 25 percent to 35 percent of Setton’s total electrical consumption and annually offset 1,900 metric tons of carbon dioxide, Cohen said.
The company will continue to receive most of its power from Southern California Edison’s electrical grid and natural gas, he said.
The modules, which will cover seven acres at the Terra Bella plant and three and a half acres at the Pixley plant, will be capable of generating 1.7 megawatts of power, Cohen said.
The project, designed and engineered by Carlsbad-based Synergy Power, carries a price tag of about $6 million. Setton, however, will not have to absorb the entire cost.
In its effort to promote the use of solar power, the federal government will give Setton a cash grant of about $1.8 million.
Additionally, on Saturdays and Sundays, when Setton uses less power, the system will continue to generate the same amount of energy. The excess power will be net metered into SCE’s electrical grid, allowing Setton to bank credits with the electricity supply company and wipe out another 30 percent of the cost.
In the end, Setton is looking at a price tag of roughly $2.4 million.
“It’s a very attractive system,” Cohen said.
Cohen said he expects to see positive returns on the company’s investment in just four years.
“It really makes it economically viable for us,” he said.
Setton is in the process of ripping out its parking lot and repaving it. The modules will be situated on top of newly placed car ports above the car spaces.
“They’ll be serving a dual purpose,” Cohen said of the car ports.
Cohen and Plant manager Jeffrey Gibbons began discussions two years ago about using solar energy at the plants, which, in total, can store 85 million pounds of pistachios.
“We’re excited about it,” Gibbons said. “We’ve looked into it for a while. It made sense to pull the trigger this year.”
Cohen said he was not sure how his company would make use of the money saved on electrical costs, but Setton is “always considering expansion.” He said the company may invest in an additional building or two to assist in operations.
Cohen also said the next truck the company buys will be an electrical truck, which will be able to park next to the solar station and recharge.
“All of our trees run on solar power,” Cohen said. “We feel it’s important to make the same commitment in practice.”
Contact Alex K.W. Schultz at 784-5000, Ext. 1050 or aschultz@portervillerecorder.com.
